Welcome!

Although our roots go back as far as World War II and the Seattle
"Auxiliary" Fire
Department,
the Last Resort Fire Department
officially began in 1969 when a handful
of dedicated individuals
banded together to form what is now the largest collection
of
antique motorized fire apparatus
in the Pacific Northwest.

The "LRFD" is a non-profit,
charitable corporation, dedicated to the acquisition,
restoration,
preservation and display of classic antique motorized fire
apparatus. The rigs can be seen in parades, car and truck
shows, fire station dedications, fire prevention exhibits and the
annual Fire Festival in Pioneer Square. Our fundraising
activities include fire prevention displays,weddings,
prom rides, office parties, retirement parties, Santa Claus
arrivals, static displays and other community events.

Our primary
mission has always been the preservation of Seattle Fire Department
history. Our collection is comprised of several unique fire
apparatus from the SFD. Included are Seattle's only
Ahrens-Fox, which was fully restored in the mid-1960's, and three of
Seattle's tillered aerials - their last wooden aerial -
a 1929 Mack, their first metal aerial - a 1937 Seagrave,
and theirlast "conventional-cab" tillered
aerial - a 1969 Kenworth/Maxim. We also have the SFD's last city-service ladder truck
- a 1950 Kenworth,
and what we believe to be the oldest surviving motorized fire
apparatus from the SFD - a 1913 Seagrave City Service Ladder. The SFD's only
Bulldog Mack is included in our collection, although it has yet to
be restored.

We work closely
with the Seattle Fire Department, providing apparatus for fire
prevention activities, fire station dedications and open houses, as
well as recruit graduation ceremonies. In addition, upon
request, we transport their horse-drawn and motorized steamers to
parades and displays. We strive to promote a professional
image in
keeping with fire service tradition.

Our maintenance facility was built in 1973, and currently houses 12
of our rigs, including
pumpers, city service ladder trucks,
and tillered aerials. Because we've outgrown our facility,
there are several rigs in the collection that are stored in
various locations in the Seattle area. The collection consists
primarily of retired Seattle Fire Department apparatus and
equipment. We also maintain hundreds of historic photographs,
alarm equipment, station furnishings, nozzles, extinguishers,
helmets, and several items unique to the S.F.D. A portion of
our collection of apparatus and artifacts are on display at our
museum at Seattle Fire Department Headquarters in Pioneer Square. The museum allows the public and
firefighters and their families the opportunity to experience the history of the fire service in general, the Seattle Fire
Department in particular.

It's quite a sight watching our active fleet of fifteen
antique and
vintage fire engines and ladder trucks, dating from 1913 to 1969, as they
proceed down the street,
all in a row, with our uniformed members on
board. Each year, thousands of people of all ages thrill to the sight
and sound of these magnificent
machines.

That small group who started the LRFD so many years ago had a vision
-- that
those wonderful
old relics that helped save so many lives
and property for so
many years, should not all end up
being lost or
scrapped. They were aware, and
we know too, that too many
significant bits of
our past have been reduced to a
mere memory or
an old photograph. We at the LRFD are doing
everything possible
to
keep this nostalgic representation of our area's fire service heritage
alive
for our future generations to learn from, and enjoy.

The LAST RESORT FIRE DEPARTMENT is a
501(c)(3) non-profit organization. If you would care to help support the LRFD so we may continue to preserve and display
the rich heritage of the fire service, you can send your
tax-deductible contribution to:

LAST RESORT FIRE DEPARTMENT

1433 NW 51st St

Seattle WA
98107

OR DONATE NOW . . .

The LAST RESORT FIRE DEPARTMENT has
TWO primary locations . . .

1. MUSEUM -
located in "Pioneer Square"

2. SHOP/MAINTENANCE FACILITY - located
in "Ballard"

~ The address for each facility is listed below ~

Last Resort Fire Department Museum

Located in Seattle Fire Department Headquarters

301-2nd Ave South (at S. Main St) in Pioneer Square

Summer hours: Wednesdays & Thursdays - 11:00am to 3:00pm

Winter hours: Open
Wednesdays only - 11:00am to 3:00pm

ADMISSION IS FREE

LRFD Shop/Storage & Maintenance Facility

1433 NW
51st St (at the North end of the Ballard Bridge) in Ballard

The Shop/Storage Facility does NOT have regular hours

Arrangements can be made
to visit the Shop Facility by contacting the LRFD

Phone 206-783-4474 or e-mail us at
lastresortfd@hotmail.com

ADMISSION IS FREE

All photos on this page, and on this
website are the property of the LAST RESORT FIRE DEPARTMENT

unless
otherwise noted. Photos and information contained on this
website may not be reproduced in

any form without express permission
from the LAST RESORT FIRE DEPARTMENT or the owner of the